Rhoden appoints veteran lawmaker to fill House vacancy
Opening occurred in Sioux Falls district after Tony Venhuizen elevated to lieutenant governor
PIERRE — Gov. Larry Rhoden filled a legislative vacancy Wednesday that he created when he selected former Rep. Tony Venhuizen to be his lieutenant governor.
Rhoden leaned on former Sen. Jack Kolbeck to fill the District 13 vacancy in the House. Kolbeck, 73, had previously served eight years in the Senate before opting not to run for a seat in the House last year.
He joins Rep. John Hughes and Sen. Sue Peterson in representing the southern Sioux Falls district.
“I worked with Jack for years as presiding officer of the state Senate,” Rhoden said in a statement announcing the selection, referring to his time as lieutenant governor. “He has a steady head on his shoulders and will be a strong partner to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free.”
Kolbeck served District 13 in the State Senate from 2017 to 2024, including as Majority Whip from 2023-2024. He has worked for more than 50 years in the malt beverage industry and has been the Key Accounts Manager for Beal Distributing since 2002. He graduated from South Dakota State University with a bachelor of arts in economics and political science in 1974.
Kolbeck serves as a board member and Region 8 Director for the National Beer Distributors. He is a board member and past president of the South Dakota Beer Distributors Association. He is a board member of both Call to Freedom and the Abbott House of Sioux Falls. He is president of the 50-and-over Sioux Falls Men’s Slowpitch softball league.
“I want to thank Gov. Rhoden for appointing me to the District 13 open seat to the House of Representatives,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Gov. Rhoden and Lt. Gov. Venhuizen. I appreciate all the support I received from so many people on my behalf.”
Jack has been married to his wife Muriel for 46 years. They have 3 children Kimberly, Jacquelyn, and Alex. They have 10 grandchildren. They have been residents in Sioux Falls for 50 years. They have been members of Central Church since 1978.
Jack is nice guy. But, the D13 voters didn’t get to vote. Blindsided with loss of representation and votes in Pierre still happened. And yet Harrisburg area district still an empty seat. Those people are (still) only getting 50% representation. Messed up system….